OBJECTIVE

We aimed to analyze the risk factors of postoperative cerebral infarction (CI) and thrombus formation in the left upper pulmonary vein (PV) stump after lobectomy.

METHODS

We retrospectively investigated 1670 patients who underwent lobectomy or more intervention, and analyzed the risk factors of postoperative CI. Furthermore, postoperative contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CE-CT) were reviewed in patients who underwent left upper lobectomy (LUL), and risk factors of the thrombus formation in the left upper PV stump were evaluated. Chi-square test or unpaired t test was used to compare the factors.

RESULTS

Cerebral infarction was observed in 10 (0.60%) patients, being more significant in patients with left side lesions (90%) who underwent LUL (50%). Eighty percent of the CI cases occurred by day 4 postoperative. CI was found in 1.47% after LUL. Among 339 patients who underwent LUL, CE-CT was performed in 137 (40%) postoperatively. Among them, left upper PV stump thrombus was found in 16 (11.7%), which was statistically significant in higher age and p stage II or more disease (= 0.003, 0.040). In contrast, preoperative histories including anticoagulant administration, atrial fibrillation, diabetes mellitus, several surgical procedures or intraoperative factors were not associated statistically with thrombus formation.

CONCLUSION

Postoperative CI occurred in the very early-phase after lobectomy, and the incidence was significantly higher in patients undergoing LUL. Because left upper PV stump thrombus was frequently found retrospectively, a prospective observation study would be required to investigate the real incidence of PV stump thrombus after lobectomy.